No More Excuses for John Henry at Liverpool

The wheel has turned full circle for John W Henry at Liverpool. His game-plan to gain control of the club was formulated at the London offices of the law firm Slaughter and May and, 19 months on, slaughter in May has cleared the way for Fenway Sports Group to implement its Anfield vision. Having added Kenny Dalglish to its cull, the demand will be intense upon Liverpool's owners to finally demonstrate they possess one.

Dalglish has gone, prematurely in these eyes, following a season that encapsulated the complexities facing FSG in its decision over the manager's position. The return on its £120m investment in new players in the Premier League was clearly unacceptable and Liverpool are at a tipping point as Financial Fair Play draws near while their rivals head into the distance.

Liverpool's former manager was often justified in lamenting misfortune in front of goal and lauding a performance level that was infrequently reflected in results, but an eighth-place finish – an 18-year low – reflected a campaign lacking in consistency and cohesion from players and manager alike. The club's first piece of silverware for six years, with the Carling Cup followed by an FA Cup final appearance, delivered the counter-argument for Dalglish's first full season back in charge and Liverpool's most celebrated moments since 2008-09.